Bill Scott of Inclusion Scotland told MSPs that previous Assisted Dying Bills at Holyrood would have included disabled people with a non-terminal conditions and those living in pain.

"I would much rather this Parliament talk about how we uphold the right to life," he said.

Anthony Horan, Director, Catholic Parliamentary Office of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland said the law cannot be "neutral" on the issue.

"It either regards death as a therapy or it upholds the sacredness of all life," he said.

He cited reports of people being "euthanised" for addiction to alcohol, as well as concerns of people being a burden on their family or even coercion.

He added; "Rather then condemn people to unnecessary suffering we ought to enhance the care for the dying."

But Gordon Macrae of the Humanist Society in Scotland said the body backed Assisted Suicide and suggested the previous Bills would have benefited from a broader inquiry into the issue.

"There is evidence out there which, I think, compiled in a committee inquiry, would be a very powerful way to allow the arguments to be truly explored and maybe take some of the heart out of what can be a very contentious debate."